The Wisconsin Education Association Council voted over the weekend at a special assembly to join the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin in talks to merge the groups.

Leaders of both unions said membership has declined about 30 percent since the state's new collective bargaining law, known as Act 10, took effect. The law pushed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker ended most collective bargaining for the majority of public workers.

WEAC said the most important reason to merge the groups is to strengthen and unify advocates of public education. Kenosha teacher Michael Orth told the State Journal, "it's about building local union power."

If approved, the earliest the merger could take effect would be fall of 2014.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.